Only Bush’s 8th Veto And It’s A Bill That Gives Raises To The Troops

Why does he hate America?

Among many provisions, the bill includes a half-percentage-point bump in military pay, on top of a 3% boost already set to go into effect Jan. 1. “As soon as possible upon Congress’s return in January, the Administration will work with Congress to enact the NDAA adjusted in a manner that protects Iraqi funds in the United States and that ensures that the additional pay raise for our troops is retroactive to January 1,” Stanzel says in the statement.

Democrats are saying this is the first time they’ve heard of any administration objections. “The administration should have raised its objections earlier, when this issue could have been addressed without a veto,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a joint statement. “The American people will have every right to be disappointed if the president vetoes this legislation, needlessly delaying implementation of the troops’ pay raise, the Wounded Warriors Act and other critical measures.”

It appears that Bush is also President of Iraq.

At the behest of the Iraqi government, President Bush has vetoed the annual defense authorization bill, saying an obscure provision in the legislation could make Iraqi assets held in U.S. banks vulnerable to lawsuits.

The veto startled Democratic congressional leaders, who believe Bush is bowing to pressure from the Iraqi government over a provision meant to help victims of state-sponsored terrorism. The veto was unexpected because there was no veto threat and the legislation passed both chambers of Congress overwhelmingly.

Democratic leaders say the provision in question could easily be worked out, but in vetoing the massive defense policy bill, some military pay raises may be on hold, as well as dozens of other programs. The White House contends that pay raises could be retroactive to Jan. 1 if the legislation is fixed.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.